Eastern Sierra Council of Governments Joint Powers Authority Special Meeting - March 13, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Vice Chair Chris Bubser called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m.
1.1 Acknowledgement of Remote Participation of Board Member Griffiths Pursuant to Government Code 54958.3(c)(4) (travel while on official business of the Board Member Jeff Griffiths reported that p
ursuant to Government Code 54958.3(c)(4) (travel while on official business of the legislative body and/or another local agency)
he was attending the meeting remotely from the Yosemite Valley Lodge for a Civic Well Conference and said that there were no other adults present with him at his remote location.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Whitebark Institute Environmental Planning Program Director Tracy Misiewicz l ed the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no comments given at this time.
4. CLOSED SESSION
The Board went into closed session at 8:36 a.m.
4.1 Public Employee Performance Evaluation – Pursuant to Government Code §54957 – Title: Executive Director The Board returned from Closed Session at 9:24 a.m. and announced that no reportable action was taken.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
Wildfire Coordinator Kristen Pfeiler provided additional details regarding the information in the staff report for Item 5.2.
There was discussion between Ms. Pfeiler and members of the Board.
Moved by
Board Member Lynda Salcido
Seconded by
Board Member Paul McFarland
Approve the Consent Agenda.
For (6)
Vice Chair Chris Bubser, Board Member Jeff Griffiths, Board Member Lynda Salcido, Board Member Karen Schwartz, Board Member Paul McFarland, and Board Member John Wentworth Absent (2)
Board Member Trina Orrill, and Board Member Karen Kong
Carried (6 to 0)
5.1 Approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting December 11, 2025
1. Item 5.1 - ESCOG 12.11.2025 DRAFT Minutes.pdf
5.2 Receive Wildfire Coordinator Staff Report
1. Item 5.2 - Staff Report_KP 2.18.26.pdf
5.3 Receive Recreation Coordinator Staff Report
1. Item 5.3 - Staff Report rec coordinator report 9 FEb 2026.pdf
5.4 Receive Inyo Mono Broadband Consortium Activities Report
1. Item 5.4 - 2026 02 18 Final Broadband Update - ESCOG.pdf
5.5 Receive and File California Advanced Service Fund Application Submitted February 20, 2026
1. Item 5.5 - ESCOG Staff Report - IMBC CASF Application 2025 02 18.JV edit.pdf
2. Item 5.5 - Appendix A_12-15-25-OneFile.pdf
6. POLICY MATTERS
6.1 Call for the Selection of Chair and Vice Chair
Board Member John Wentworth nominated Vice Chair Chris Bubser for the position of Chair of the ESCOG.
Board Member Jeff Griffiths nominated Board Member Trina Orrill for the position of Vice Chair of the ESCOG.
Moved by
Board Member John Wentworth
Seconded by
Board Member Paul McFarland
Appoint Chris Bubser as Chair of the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments.
For (6)
Vice Chair Chris Bubser, Board Member Jeff Griffiths, Board Member Lynda Salcido, Board Member John Wentworth, Board Member Karen Schwartz, and Board Member Paul McFarland Absent (2)
Board Member Trina Orrill, and Board Member Karen Kong
Carried (6 to 0)
Moved by
Board Member Jeff Griffiths
Seconded by
Board Member Paul McFarland
Appoint Trina Orrill as Vice Chair of the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments.
For (6)
Vice Chair Chris Bubser, Board Member Jeff Griffiths, Board Member Lynda Salcido, Board Member John Wentworth, Board Member Karen Schwartz, and Board Member Paul McFarland Absent (2)
Board Member Trina Orrill, and Board Member Karen Kong
Carried (6 to 0)
6.2 Receive a Presentation on the Eastern Sierra Wildfire Alliance & the West Mono Basin Project
1. Item 6.2 - ESCOG Update 2-2026.pdf
Executive Director Elaine Kabala provided background information about this item and introduced Whitebark Institute Environmental Planning Program Director Tracy Misiewicz.
Ms. Misiewicz outlined the information in the Whitebark Institute Update.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Wildfire Coordinator Kristen Pfeiler provided information about a meeting hosted by High Sierra Energy Foundation last night regarding home hardening techniques.
There was discussion between Ms. Kabala, Ms. Misiewicz, Ms. Pfeiler, and members of the Board.
6.3 Receive a Presentation on the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments 2026 Workplan
1. Item 6.3 - ESCOG_2026_workplan_staffing.pdf
Executive Director Elaine Kabala outlined the information in the ESCOG 2026 Workplan.
There was discussion between Ms. Kabala and members of the Board.
Staff was given direction to pursue more implementation grants, including the application for the Eastern Sierra to become an Economic Development District (EDD), to broaden convening and execution in project areas under a broad definition of economic development. Transition the ESCOG into becoming a implementation body, not just a convening body and pursue economic development projects to meet regional needs. Executive Director to meet with the member agencies and member agency appointees about providing services in-kind and/or a membership contribution increase and to prepare an ask for an amount that would be optimal for five years as well as a scope of services.
6.4 Receive Sierra Jobs First Project Implementation Update and Provide Direction on Board Engagement
1. Item 6.4 - Staff Report_SJF update (003).pdf
2. Item 6.4 - Exhibit A Agnew Beck ESCOG Contract 2.19.26.pdf Executive Director Elaine Kabala outlined the information in the staff report.
Board Member Jeff Griffiths left the meeting at 10:49 a.m.
Legal Counsel John Carl Vallejo announced that with Mr. Griffiths departure from the meeting, the Board still had a Brown Act quorum, but no longer had a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) required quorum for any sort of direction or action to be taken since there would not longer be an Inyo County representative attending the meeting. Mr. Vallejo said the Board could proceed receiving a presentation.
There was discussion between Ms. Kabala, Mr. Vallejo, and members of the Board.
6.5 Executive Director Update Report
1. Item 6.5 - Staff Report exec dir report.pdf
Executive Director Elaine Kabala outlined the information in the staff report.
There was discussion between Ms. Kabala and members of the Board.
7. BOARD MEMBER/AGENCY REPORTS
Board Member John Wentworth provided an update on the Golden State Connect program and spoke briefly about a development project that was presented at the Town of Mammoth Lakes (TOML) Town Council meeting last week.
Board Member Karen Schwartz announced that the City of Bishop had received some grants, one being $2.4M as a loan with principal forgiveness for the preliminary engineering report for their Bishop Area Wastewater Treatment Plant and the other for in the amount oft $4.5M for rehab of their entire wastewater system. Ms. Schwartz said they had just kicked off their Park Master Plan Survey and requested that members throughout the whole region take the survey. She also spoke about the North Tahoe Community Alliance, and said it was a model that she would like Bishop to use their partners.
Board Member Paul McFarland said that there was a Painted Lady Butterfly migration in the region which would likely continue for another week or two and reported that the County had approved a contract for firm to assist them with redesigning the Office of Emergency Management, which would also include the Wildfire Coordinator position. Mr. McFarland said that the Caltrans project in Lee Vining would be delayed because the bid came in significantly over budget and it would be rescoped and sent back out to bid.
Board Member Lynda Salcido reported that the County was approved by the California Disaster Assistance Agency to back fill and help with the phase two clean up at the Pack Fire site.
Board Member Karen Schwartz reported that the City of Bishop had received a grant in the amount of $26M for the Silver Peaks $26M project.
There was discussion between Executive Director Elaine Kabala and members of the Board.
8. REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
There were no future agenda items requested.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Chris Bubser adjourned the meeting at 11:07 a.m. to the next regularly schedule meeting.